Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs



Jan. 19, 1943. I B. A. WILSON I 2,308,842

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BILLETS OR SLABS Filed Jan. 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Maw Jan. 19, 1943. B. A. WILSON 2,308,842

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BILLETS OR SLABS Filed Jan. 21, 1941 4-Sheets-Sheet 2 g L'\ A J 4L= i n Jan. 19, 194-3. 5.. A. WILSON APPARATUS FOR GRINDING B ILLETS OR SLABS Filed Jan. 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 19, 1943. B. A. WILSON APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BILLETS OR SLABS F iled Jan. 21, 1941 45heets-Sheet 4 nag, MAM/a Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BILLETS OR 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for grinding billets or slabs, and it is among the objects thereof to reduce costs by reducing the labor incident to the handling of these articles during the grinding operation.

The billets are ground to remove seams and defects which would otherwise appear as flaws after subsequent rolling and hammering operations.

One of the grinding operations, known as skinning, has for its purpose the removal of scale, where all of the scale is not removed by pickling.

Defects in billets may consist of surface cracks which are longitudinal or along the corners of the billets. There also may be seams caused by lapping in the rolls, or scales, which has been hammered deeply into the billet.

Billet or slab grinding is done by suspended grinding apparatus known as swing-frame machines which are suspended from a jib hoist and constitute a frame member with the motor on one end and the grinding wheel on the other to obtain a counterbalanced effect, the pressure being supplied by the operator by hearing down on the wheel end of the frame. The grinding wheels most economically adapted for billet or slab grinding vary from 14 to 24" in diameter. Slabs that require grinding for the removal of surface defects may be 4 thick, 24 wide and i 9 long, which roughly weigh one and one half ton, and by the method of grinding heretofore followed, the slabs or billets are laid on a bench, and after the exposed or upper surface has been ground the slab must be turned either on edge or on its opposite face to expose its other surfaces for grinding.

There are two operators required to grind and move the slabs or billets, and because of the laborious work in handling the slab, the finished surface must first be approved by the inspector.

In accordance with the present invention the slabs or billets are mounted between spaced centers on which they may be readily turned to expose their several faces for the grinding operation.

The invention further contemplates the employment of a movable support for the center mount whereby the billet or slab surface may be raised to the desired grinding level.

The invention further contemplates the employment of supports other than the centers upon which the slabs or billet rests when subjected to the grinding pressure.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of a grinding frame and work-support in which either the frame or support are adapted for relative movement in a horizontal plane, and to relative movement in a vertical plane, a construction suitable to produce the latter effect being a spring-biased mount for the grinding wheel bracket whereby the wheel is yieldingly biased against the surface of the slab or billet being ground.

The primary object of the invention may be stated as the steps in the method of grinding slabs or billets which consist of mounting the billet or slab on a self-aligning rigid support and moving the surface to be ground into a yielding abrasive to adapt the cutting face of the abrasive to the contour of the surface to be ground.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof in which like reference characters designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a slab grinder embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 a front elevational View of a fluid pump and trough;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of a slab or billet grinding apparatus;

Fig. 4 a side elevation of a portion of a track and trolley for suspending the grinding wheel and frame;

Fig. 5 a side elevation of the complete machine with a modified form of grinding wheel attachment;

Fig. 6 a sectional elevational view taken along the line 66, Fig. 5; i

Fig. '7 a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system and controls therefor.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates a track for supporting a movable carriage 2 which supports a cylinder 3 of a hydraulic ram 4, the head 5 of which carries a pair of channel bars 6 which support center blocks 1 and 8, the latter having a fixed center 9 and the block I having an adjustable center I0 movable by hand crank H. The channels 6 are pivotally mounted on head 5 by pivot pin 5* to tilt on carriage 2 for convenience in aligning the slab.

The carriage 2 is actuated by a plunger operable in a cylinder I2, the plunger being actuated by a source of pressure communicating with the cylinder [2 through conduit [3. Such an actuator may consist of a cylinder and plunger at each end of the carriage or a single cylinder and plunger to which the fluid pressure is directed by a spool. valvewell known in the art.

with its fiat sides vertically disposed in the dotted lines. Adjustable supports l6 may be placed under the slab to support the mass without imposing undue strain on the centers which might otherwise tear-out because of the grinding pressure exerted on the slab,

By means of the supports l6, which as shown in Fig. 3 are provided with adjusting screws I6, the slab is supported partly on the carriage 2 on which supports I6 rest. Because of the pivotal mounting of the center supporting channels 6, the latter will adjust themselves to the position of supports 6. By these adjustments the top face of the slab: is aligned to the desired grinding position.

The hydraulic ram 4 is actuated by fluid pressure communicating with cylinder 3 through a conduit 3 Fig. 3, controlled by valve Il Fig. 7 and the hydraulic ram including cylinder 3 is disposed in a pit to be movable therein within the limits of travel of the carriage 2.

The work support carriage 2 is movable to reciprocate longitudinally by the hydraulic plunger operable in cylinder I2 by the application of fluid pressure through conduit |3.

The application of fluid to cylinder i2 is controlled by a four-way valve which is controlled by a shuttle 5| having a lug 52 that strikes lugs 53 and 54 in its backward and forward movements. The valve is also controlled by a valve actuated by a pulley 56 having a belt connection 5? with a pulley 58 on shaft 59, Fig. 5. Shaft 59 is rotated through a miter gear by a hollow shaft having miter gears 6| connected to a shifting rod 62. By shifting the rod 62 the hollow shaft and its connecting yoke 53 is rocked bodily about the shaft 59, whereby the shuttle 5| is operated, and by rotating the shift rod 62, the sleeve 6 is revolved through the miter gear. 6| to rotate shaft 59 which, through the pulleys and belt, rotates the valve 55.

The shifting rod 62 is provided with adjustable stop lugs 64 and which are adapted to strike a stationary stop 65 mounted on channels 6. The stops 64 and 65 are set to strike the stop lugs 66 at the end of the travel of the slab underneath the grinding Wheel in either direction of travel, and through actuation of the shuttle 5| the lugs 53 and 54 are engaged to reverse the valve. If it is desired to adjust the speed of travel of the work support or carriage, the shift rod 62 is rotated to actuate valve 55 to regulate the volume of the actuating fluid passing to cylinder |2.

As shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 60 is connected by a bevel gear drive 61 to the shaft 59 that carries the pulley 58 for actuating the control valve 55. The rock arm 5| that actuates the shuttle 5| is mounted on a hollow sleeve 68 that is actuated by a bracket 69 secured to the sleeve 60. Thus, by rotating the shift rod 62, sleeve 60 will turn and actuate the sheave wheel 58 through the bevel gear 61, and by shifting the rod 62 without rotating it, the hollow sleeve 68 through the bracket 69 will subject the arm 5| to angular movement to actuate the shuttle 5|.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 7 of thedrawings, the numeral (0 designates a gear pump operated by a motor H. A conduit 12 is the return conduit from the carriage cylinder l2, and conduits l3 and 14 direct the fluid from the pump to the opposite sides of the actuating piston of the work-supporting carriage.

In Fig. 1, the pilot valve 50 is shown as provided with a hand lever for hand control, if desired, but the control valve 55 is actuated through the rotation of the shift rod 62 in the manner shown in Fig. 6. Numeral l5 designates a platform for the operator and the numeral 16 a guard behind which the operator stands.

In the suspension shown in Fig. 3, the suspension link Ill is mounted on a carriage l9 having 7 wheels |9 moving on the flanges of the I-beam l8 If it is desired to employ the grinding wheel as a swing frame grinder, the pin 36* of the suspension rod 35 may be removed and the wheel manipulated by hand.

In the construction of grinding wheel shown in Fig. 5, the wheel frame I8 is rigidly suspended from the I-beam I6 The grinding wheel is mounted on an extension bracket 23, and the lubricating fluid is directed to the front of the wheel by the spout 22 The lubrication for the grinding wheel is delivered by a pump mounted at one end of the sump which may be filled or partially filled with a grinder cooling medium, such as water. A pipe 18 draws the fluid to the pump and from there it is delivered through conduit 22 to the nozzles at the grinding wheel. The pump may be either mounted on the movable carriage or, if stationary, can be flexibly coupled to the conduit 22.

The grinding mechanism consists of a hollow frame l8 mounted in a suspension bracket l9 carrying a motor bracket 26 that supports a motor 2|. The grinding wheel 22 is mounted on an axle 23 journalled in brackets 24 that are secured to a yoke 25 which, as shown in Fig. 1, consist of channel bars joined by a cross-bar 26. Shaft 23 carries a pulley 21 that is connected by a drive belt 28 with the pulley of the drive motor 2|. 1

The grinding wheel bracket 25 is journalled on a hollow sleeve 32, rotatable by a hand wheel 33, said sleeve having screw thread engagement with the threads 34 of the suspension bar or link 35, which is secured in the yoke 35. Sleeve 32 is provided with a collar 31 that constitutes'a spring seat for the coil spring 33. By adjusting the collar 37 on thread 32, the tension on spring 38 is varied. By adjusting hand wheel 33, the entire wheel support is adjustable vertically.

As shown in Fig. 4, the suspension bar 35 of the grinding wheel is secured to a trolley 40, movable on track 4|. The trolley is actuated by a piston 42 operative in cylinder 43 that is attached by bracket 44 to the track 4|. By alternately directing fluid pressure through valve IT to opposite sides of the piston, the trolley 40 is moved horizontally.

This'construction may be used where the slab support is not mounted on a movable carriage as shown on Fig. 2, and the pilot and control valves 50 and 55, respectively, may be used in controlling direction and speed of the wheel travel over the work surface.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is briefly as follows.

The centered slab, or billet I5, is mounted between the centers 9 and II), as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slab or billet is then turned to either the upright position, as shown in Fig. 5,.

or the fiat position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When the slab is placed in the proper position for grinding, ram 5 is lowered by releasing the fluid pressure therebeneath, and the slab comes to rest on the supports 16. If the slab is uneven, the adjustable screws l6a are manipulated until it is properly leveled.

The grinding wheel motor 2! is then energized and the grinding wheel brought in contact with the surface to be ground. Hand wheel 33 is then adjusted to bring the necessary pressure to bear against the face of the slab, and piston I2 is actuated to move the carriage 2 beneath the grinding wheel 22 to grind the surface of the billet throughout its entire length.

If it is desired to grind the entire length of the slab, stops 64 and 65 are set between the limits of the slab, and as the carriage travels back and forth, the adjustable stops will strike the stationary lugs 66, which causes the-shift rod 62 to move, thereby in turn operating shuttle 5| to throw the pilot valve lugs 53 and 54 which moves the valves to change the direction of movement of the carriage. If a lesser area than the length of the billet is to be ground, the stop lugs 64 and 65 of the shift rod 62 are set accordingly. By rotating the shift rod 62, the operator may control the speed of movement of the carriage or stop the movement of the carriage entirely.

The slab is then ground until the surface defect has been ground away. Any unevenness in the surface of the slab will not injure the grinding wheel because of the resilient mounting as effected through the coil spring 38.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the principles herein set forth.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a movable carriage, a vertically movable work support mounted on said carriage having a fixed center and a movable center for rotatably mounting the billet or slab therebetween, means other than said work support for supporting the billet or slab directly on said carriage, a grinding wheel for engaging the surface of the billet or slab, means for raising and lowering the grinding wheel relative to the work support, and means for subjecting the carriage to reciprocating movement in a horizontal plane.

2. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a movable carriage, a work table pivotally mounted on said carriage, work-supporting centers on said table adapted to engage the ends of the billets O1 slabs, a grinding wheel above said support, and means supported directly on the carriage for engaging the billet or slabs, said last-named means being adjustable to align the s rfaee to be ground with the cutting face of the abrasive wheel, means for raising and lowering said table independently of the carriage, and means for subjecting the carriage and table to movement in a horizontal plane.

3. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a movable carriage, a hydraulic ram mounted for movement with said carriage, a work-table pivotally mounted on said ram for vertical movement relative to the carriage, centers on the table for engaging the ends of the billets or slabs, supporting means on said carriage for engaging the under side of the billet or carriage, said last named means being adjustable for leveling the surface to be ground, fluid pressure means for said hydraulic ram, and actuating means for the carriage and an abrasive wheel mounted above the work table, said wheel being provided with adjustable pressure means for yieldingly engaging the surface of the billet or slab.

4. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a pit, a pair of rails mounted adjacent the edge of the pit, a wheeled carriage on said rails, a hydraulic ram mounted centrally of the carriage and extending beneath the carriage into the pit, a work table pivotally mounted on said ram at the center of the table, a pair of centers carried by the table for engaging counter-sunk centers in the ends of the billet or slab to swing the same for rotary movement, work supports on the carriage extending through the table for engaging the underside of the billets or slabs to support the same and to level the surface to be ground independently of the location of the end centers of the billet or slab, fluid pressure means for actuating said ram in its vertical movement, said ram being at all times in its lowered position during the grinding operation, with the billet resting upon its carriage supports or the centers of said table actuating means for subjecting the carriage to reciprocating movement on the rails, adjustable means fOr regulating the length of travel of the carriage, and independent means for regulating the speed of the carriage travel and an abrasive wheel mounted above the work table.

5. Apparatus as set forth in the next preceding claim characterized by fluid pressure means for actuating the carriage in its reciprocatory movement, a pilot valve controlling the application of fluid for the desired directional travel of the carriage, a shift rod for engaging the pilot valve to reverse the valve by shifting of the rod to vary the direction of travel of the table, adjustable stops on said shift rod and a stationary stop lug on the table adapted to engage the stops of the shift rod whereby the length of travel of the table is determined by the spacing of the adjustable stops from the stop lug of the table.

6. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a movable carriage, a hydraulic ram mounted on said carriage, a work support table pivotally mounted on said ram in spaced relation from said carriage, said table having centers for rotatably mounting billets or slabs therebetween, and means disposed between the work and carriage for adjusting the tabl angularly about its pivot connection with the ram, and to secure the work against vertical displacement on the carriage.

7. Apparatus for grinding billets or slabs comprising a movable carriage, a hydraulic ram mounted on said carriage, a work support table pivotally mounted on said ram in spaced relation from said carriage, said table having centers for rotatably mounting billets or slabs therebetween, and means disposed between the work and carriage for adjusting the table angularly about its pivot connection with the ram, and to secure the work against vertical displacement on the carriage, said carriage being operable on guide rails between fixed limit stops to subject the work table to reoiprocatory movement in a horizontal plane.

BERT A. WILSON. 

